COLCHESTER Rugby Club lost to their Suffolk neighbours Bury St Edmunds 55-34 in front of comfortably the biggest crowd of the season at Raven Park, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.

Six tries represents Colchester’s best scoring return of the season and captain Danny Whiteman spoke of his pride at the team’s performance “putting smiles on faces” despite the National League 2 defeat.

“We played the sort of rugby we want and which we can build on,” said the skipper.

The performance was more impressive still, given Colchester are currently without at least nine first team regulars through injury.

Colchester started the quicker, with Jacob Bodkin scoring a try within 53 seconds as the hosts attacked direct from kick-off.

Bury struck back with their first significant attack, Ewan Guy crossing after the ball was recycled left from a scrum.

Will Blakemore, who had another barnstorming game, was twice involved in the build-up to Colchester’s second try, scored by Ashton Webb who dived over after a patient build up.

Bury held sway in the second quarter, three tries giving the visitors a 22-12 lead at the break and it could have been four but for a try-saving tackle by Bodkin.

(Image: MAGGIE WHITEMAN)

Bury director of rugby Jacob Ford admitted “losing his head” with his players at half-time and it seemed to do the trick, the visitors scoring two tries in as many minutes shortly after the restart.

Colchester were, however, not throwing in the towel, and from a line-out drive on 51 minutes, the impressive Webb crossed for his second try.

Back came Bury, Callum Hall fielding a cross-field kick to score. The conversion made it 43-17.

Colchester secured another crucial bonus point as replacement Jimmy Thompson scored from a line-out maul after good work by Francois Rossouw, only for Ben Penfold to get his second for Bury.

(Image: BEANSTALK MEDIA)

With the visitors perhaps assuming the match was won, they let Colchester in for two further tries.

First Gabe Jones went straight through a hole from a close-range scrum, then the referee awarded a penalty try as Luke Rokomoce was taken out as he sped for the line, Bury’s number 8 going to the bin.

All the replacements saw action, notably Jake Barry coming on for his debut.

With Colchester pushing for an unlikely second bonus point, wing Will Affleck gathered the ball inside his own half and raced to the line to wrap things up for the visitors.

“I don’t think the score reflected the game,” said Colchester head coach Mike Haywood. “I’m super proud of the effort the players put in.

(Image: MAGGIE WHITEMAN)

“But we can’t let teams come here and scored 55 points and expect to win the game. Defence is something we’re really going to focus on.”

Jacob Bodkin was named player of the match by sponsors Ellisons, while the coach’s award, courtesy of The Lexden Crown and Amnesia Flowers, went to Connor O’Reilly.

Colchester now have a week off before an away trip to Henley, on February 8.

For the second week running, The Ravens secured an impressive two bonus points as they narrowly lost 31-27 to runaway league leaders Norwich to go sixth, even more creditable as they travelled with just 17 players.

Colchester fours lost 19-10 at Woodbridge.

Colchester: Taylor, Martin, Bodkin, Blakemore, O’Reilly, Jones, Creighton; C Jeffery, Rossouw, L Jeffery, Sykes, Pickett, Kerr, Whiteman ©, Webb. Reps: McMillan, Barry, Brock, Thompson, Rokomoce.